Lightweight portable still



May 29, 1945.

A. J. LAL IBER TE LIGHT WEIGH'I PORTABLE STILL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 7, 1943 m 9 n 0 v INVENTOR.

ALBERT J. LALIBEATE May 29, 1945. A. J. LALlBERTE 2,376,876

LIGHT WEIGHT PORTABLE STILL V I Filed April 7,1943 2 Shets-Sheet 2 f INVENTOR.

ALBERT 4 LAL/BERTE Patented May 29, 1945 LIGHTWEIGHT PORTABLE STILL Albert. J. Laliberte, Naugatuck, Conn, assignor to Safety Fuel,

Incorporated, West Cheshire,

Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April '7, 1943, Serial No. 482,104

' 5 Claims. (01. 202-235) This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in portable stills and particularly in lightweight portable stills such a are used for abandon ship use to generate fresh potable water from water that is salty and/or contaminated. Such stills include a stove, a closed vessel for boiling the salty or contaminated water, a duct forconducting'the steam from the boiling vessel, a receptacle for the condensate produced by condensing the steam, and a condenser which may be constituted in whole or in part by said duct and/or said receptacle. Such stills must be relatively light, preferablyv not exceeding 25 pounds in weight, and'since fuel is necessarily limited in amount under the conditions of use, should yield thelargest possible amount of potable water for each unit of fuel consumed.

The object of this invention is an increase in the thermal efficiency of and yield of potable water from each unit of fuel consumed and the application describes and claims a construction whereby this object is accomplished. The invention will be fully understood from the description read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of part of the construction shown in Fig. 1 on the plane indicated by 2-2;

Fig. 3 is a top view of a part of the construction shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is aside view of the construction shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a reverse side view of the same; and

. Fig. 6 is a view of, the. construction shown in Fig. 4 on the plane indicated by 66.

Referring to the drawings, I is a tubular flue preferably, although notnecessarily, of circular cross-section; 2 is a second tubular flue of similar cross section, at least substantiall coaxial with I. Flue .l carries perforations 3 preferably uni-' formly distributed and, extending down to approximately the upper edge of air inlets 4, 5, and 6. These perforations preferably run between 14 and 16 holes of approximately diameter to the square inch. Flue 2 carries similar perforations 1 also preferably uniformly distributed and extending down to the upper edge of the air inlets '4, 5 and 6. The upper end of the internal flue 2 is provided with the cap 8, preferably imperforate and in any event substantiallyimperforate. From a line H, slightly above the upper edge of the horizontal air inlets the internal flue 2 is leveled inwardly at I2 and provided with a bottom closure l3. The annular space between naphtha or gasoline.

the dues l and 2 is a, combustion zone within which combustion of hydrocarbon vapors proceeds actively when the device is in use.- 'Air is brought into the combustion zone M from the exterior of the flue I through the perforations 3 and from the interior of the flue 2 through the perforations 1. Air is brought into the space defined by the flue 2, cup 8 and bottom closure l3 by means of the horizontal air inlets. These horizontal air inlets are symmetrically distributed and there is, therefore, one such additional air inlet in that portion of the device which faces the observer and, therefore, does not appear in Fig 1. Flue 2, is supported in position by'these horizontal air inlets which are held in holes provided for this purpose in the external flue I. From the upper edge of the flue I that extends outwardly the horizontal flange l5 and thence downwardly, the skirt or sleeve l6 thereby forming an annular imperforate hood surrounding the perforations in the upper part of flue l. Flue l is'provided adjacent the lower edge thereof with the annular flange I! by which it is spot welded or similarly secured to the shelf l8. Shelf I 8 is riveted or spot welded to the upstanding rail [9. The stove is provided with an outer shell or casing 2| and the shelf I8 is also secured in position by riveting or welding the corners of the shelf [8 to the insideof the casing 2|. The hinge 22 is also. secured to the rail l9 and is in turn secured, to the shelf 23. The container 24 is held in position on the shelf .23 by means of the shell or cup 25.

spot welded or similarly secured to the shelf 23. Within the cup are springs 26 and 2'! bearing against the disc 28 by whichthe container 24 is forced upwardly into firm engagement with the lower surface of the shelf l8. The container is held in, registry with the periphery of the combustion space M by means of the annular flange I 3| spot welded or similarly secured to the shelf 18. The stove illustrated is for use with a solidifled normally fluid fuel, preferably a solidified hydrocarbon and more preferably a solidified must be fabricated with care so that the upper rim 32 of the same forms a fairly tight seal with This solidified fuel may be a held in the container 24 but since this container which may be closed by the door 34 pivotallycarried by the hinge 35 spot welded or similarly secured to the lower edge of easing 2|. The door; may be held in position by the latch 35 which" engages the edge 31 of the casing 2| and which, may be operated by a. handle, notshown, through the post 38. The-door 34 isprovided with a camming surface; which; cooperates withthe projection 4i formed in the adjacent end of the shelf.v 23. When the door 34 is opened this camming" surface permits the end of the shelf 23 adjacent,-

ports 42.

the door to drop, the shelf moving pivotally withrespect to the axis of hinge 22. In this position-,I

the master container 24 maybe removedthrough} Y door 34 and a can ofxsolidifiedtuel from whichthe cover has been removed placed therein.

master container is then returned to its position in the cup 25, the fuel is ignited and the door3'4 is closed and locked in position by means of the latch whereupon the stove will function normally} until the fuel the receptacle has becomegex-g a structure whereby the thermal efliciency of the device as a whole is materially increased and whereby a favorable ratio of potable water to fuel consumed may be obtained.

With reference to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the lower part of the boiling vessel 5| is provided with projecting fins of which 12 and13 appear in the :figure. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be notedthat there are-altogether twelve of these fins symmetrically disposed with respect to the lower part of the boiling vessel 5|. By reference to Figs. 4 6 inclusive, it will be seen that eachfin consists of a web 14 which in Figs. 1 and2 is oriented radially with respect tothe axis of the boiling vessel. In addition, each fin is provided with a turned-overflange 15 by which it is spot welded orsimilarly secured to the side wall of the boil- I 7 ing vessel and with a turned overflange 16 by hausted. Airv to support" combustion passes to;-

the inside of shell or' casing 21 through the Preferably the upper vided with a layer 43 of thermal insulation. 'The shell 2iis alsoprovidedwith a horizontally extending flange 44 and an upstanding retainerring 453by whichthe distilling or boiling elements are supported and retained; 3 1

These, include theboiling vessel 51' provided with the 'removab le cover 52?. The vessel 5! is rovided with re-liedover edge 53 while th cover" 52 1s rovided with an ar'ntmlar recess 54 within which located the annular sealing ring or gasket 55 whereby the vessel 5 is closed and sealed. To increase the thermal effi'ciencvcover 52 is also provided with a shell 56 and with suitable-thermal insulation held between cover 52 and shell as. j

The rolled over edge 53 of the boiling vessel rests onthe upper edge of casing 58 surroundingthe boiling vessel and this in turn is supported by the annular flange 45. The gaseous combustion products after they have imparted heat to the boiling vessel escape through pjortstll" in the upper end of, shell 58-'. The shell 56 1s pro:- vided with swing nuts 59 of which one isshown in Fig. 1 cooperating with projecting fianges'such asila'l' secured to the side wall of casing 58, by means of which the cover-52 may be readily-re; moved or replaced. The casing 58 is also provided' with swingnuts such as 62 of whichone a is shown in Fig. l, cooperating with projecting flange such as 63 secured to the side wall of casassembly may, if desiredbe easily removed from the stove or replaced in the position shown.

Steam generated in the boiling vessel 5| is conrevolve-d and for this purpose theflexible tube Gamay; be of sufficient length so thata part of can be immersed, out-board, in the seawater, or, alternatively, a canteen maybe fitted to the end of the flexible tube 65, which canteen may be immersed in the sea water to serve both as condenser for the stea and as a receptacle for the condensate.

The entire assembly may be carriedbymeans of bale'l'fl secured to sockets H', spot welded or similarly secured to the outside of shell 58.

Thisfihvention' is particularly ,conc'eme'd with part of the shellis pro-5' -65 ing 21. lilymeans of which the boiling vessel.

which it is similarly spot welded or otherwise Eachfin'is also provided with a transverselyextending-member 1-1. Thiszis preferably formed integral with the fin by first cutting a'blarrlt' to include the radial web No. l4, the fl'anges'l 5 and 15 as well as thetransversely extending member l1, and thera'fter, bending the flanges l5 and T6 to a right angle with'the radialweb- No. Fl-as shown in Figs. l-6 inclusive, a d bending the tab forming the'transversely extending member 11 to' a right angle with the radial web- No. HF, to the positionshowh Figsi i-G.

By eference: to-Fig'. zit will be further noted that these t'ransverselyflexte'riding members M extend from one fin-substantiallytothe adjacent fin and collectively substantially'encircle the axis. The path of the heated gaseous products of combustion rising from the stove is general'radially outward adjacent the bottom of the boiling vessel 51, whereas the transversely extending mem bers T1 are interposed directly in the radial path of the gaseous products of combustion. It will also be noted from Fig. I that these transverse which the gaseous products of combustion are discharged upwardly. Theli'ne 18 is parallel to the vertical axis of theboiling vessel and approximately in the central position within the slot 82. By reference to this line and to the upper end oi the slot it will be evident that theupperedge 1-9 of the transversely extending member. 1'1 and the adjacent portion 8| of the "boiling vessel are roughly symmetrical to :the line T8; thereby forming at this point an outlet by which gaseous-proddots of combustion are directed upwardly in a direction substantiallyparallel to'the side wall of the boiling vesselfil. This feature is of importance'to the attainment of the maximum thermal efficiency. g I g The method of operationof the device is as follows: I When'it is'desired to exam le, from sea watenfthe coveriz is removed by means of swing nuts such as 59, a quantityoi salt water is introduced. into th boiling; vessel, 7

obtain fresh water as'for the amount to be introduced being indicated by a suitable marker on the inside of the boiling vessel and thereafter the cover 52 is replaced and the swing nuts tightened. The flexible tube 65 is then connected to the receiver for the portable water; With the device in upright position the cover is removed from a can of fuel and the can is placed in master container '24, which then is positioned in the cup 25 in the manner hereinabove' described. The fuel is then ignited by means of a match or lighter and the door 34 is closed. Within a few minutes the stove will burn with a clear blue flame and when the water in the vessel has reached the boiling point steam will be evolved. If the receiver functions also as a condenser it must from this time on be kept submerged and if, alternatively, the tube 65 is to function as a condenser, a part of this must be kept submerged while the end remote from the union B6 is carried in-board to the receiver. From this point on distillation and condensation proceed automatically. The conclusion of a run is indicated by the appearance of a light smoke from the outlets 60 indicating the substantial exhaustion of the fuel.

The fresh potable Water is removed from the receiver at the conclusion of such ar-un; the boiling vessel 5| is emptied of the concentrated salt water left therein and refilled with fresh salt water; the cover is then replaced, secured in position and connected through flexible tube 65 to the receiver; a new charge of fuel may be introducedinto the stove and ignited whereupon the operation will be repeated in the same manner.

By means of the special fin structure hereinabove described, I have found it entirely possible to obtain yields of fresh potable water from salt water as great as twelve times the weight of the solidified fuel consumed.

The foregoing description is for purposes of illustration and not of limitation and it is therefore my intention that the invention be limited only by the appended claims or their equivalents in which I have endeavored to claim broadly all inherent novelty.

I claim:

1. In a portable still including a boiling vessel and beneath said vessel a stove for burning solidifled normally liquid fuel; radially disposed metallic fins carried by the under-surface of said vessel and metallic members extending transversely from at least a part of said fins spaced apart from the bottom of said still, said members extending transversely forming with the bottom of said vessel, a discharge outlet adapted to direct gases substantially parallel to the side wall of said vessel.

2. In a portable still including a boiling vessel and beneath said vessel, a stove for burning solidified normally liquid fuel; radially disposed metallic fins carried by the under and the lower vertical surfaces of said vessel and metallic members extending transversely from at least a part of said fins spaced apart from the bottom of said vessel, said members extending transversely forming with the bottom of said vessel, a discharge outlet adapted to direct gases substantially parallel to the side wall of said vessel.

3. In a portable still including a boilingvessel and beneath said vessel a stove for burning solidified normally liquid fuel; radially disposed metallic fins carried by the under-surface of said vessel and metallic members located adjacent the bilge of said vessel extending transversely from at least a part of said fins and spaced apart from the bottom of said vessel, said members extending transversely forming with'the bottom of said vessel a discharge outlet adapted to direct gases substantially parallel to the side wall of said vessel.'

4. In a portable still including a boiling vessel and beneath saidvessel a stove for burning solidified normally liquid fuel; radially disposed metallic fins carried by the under-surface of said vessel and metallic members spaced apart from the bottom of said vessel, extending transversely from at least part of said fins at least'substantially to the adjacent fin, said members extending transversely forming with the bottom of said vessel, a discharge outlet adapted to direct gases substantially parallel to the side wall of said vessel.

5. In a portable still including a boiling vessel and beneath said vessel a stove for burning solidified normally liquid fuel, radially disposed metallic fins carried by the under and lower vertical surfaces of said vessel, metallic members spaced apart from the bottom of said vessel, extending transversely from at least part of said fins at least substantially to the adjacent fin, said members extending transversely forming with the bottom of said vessel a discharge outlet adapted to direct gases substantially parallel to the side wall of ALBERT. J. LALIBERTE.

' said vessel. 

